SPORTS REPORTER

A teammate and friend of Hucknall’s Downie sisters has won the 2014 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award.

Pocket-rocket gymnast Claudia Fragapane landed the accolade at the televised ceremony last Sunday night, which was held at The Hydro in Glasgow.

It was the same venue where, earlier this year, the 17-year-old became the first British woman in 84 years to win four gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. The last to do so was swimmer Joyce Cooper at the 1930 Games in Canada.

One of the golds came in the women’s team final when her England teammates included Becky Downie (22), as well as Hannah Whelan, Ruby Harrold and Kelly Simm. After her SPOTY success, Downie sent this message to her 12,600 followers on Twitter: “Massive congratulations to @claudia_frag!!”

Fragapane, who hails from Bristol, is big friends with Ellie Downie (15), who is set to start competing alongside her at senior level from next year.

All three gymnasts could be competing for Team GB at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.